Advantages

Disadvantages

Sea kelp is a good supplement when used correctly!

I first learnt about sea kelp as a supplement about three years ago; but I only got round to buying my first pot of sea kelp tablets a year or so ago. As I run a nail art blog, having nails that are in great condition all year round is really important to me. When I noticed recently that my nails were brittle and starting to peel, I decided to see if the sea kelp tablets I had would help at all. I was hoping primarily that my nails would grow quicker so that the peeling ends could be filled off and the new, healthier nail could grow to a nice length. With my sister's wedding coming up, it seemed like the ideal time to try them out properly.

Sea kelp tablets are basically the powdered, pill form of a very natural product - sea weed! Kelp itself can be eaten to improve energy levels and control thyroid problems but if you don't have access to it, then sea kelp tablets are a good alternative. Iodine is present in a lot of the higher range of multi-vitamins so if you're taking something daily already, it's worth checking to see whether or not you're already getting your dose of iodine that sea kelp tablets will provide you. Unlike vitamin C, iodine is not water soluble so taking too many tablets can cause serious health problems.

After about a fortnight of taking two tablets a day (which I have now cut down to one tablet a day, see below) my nails are definitely growing quicker; they don't appear to be any stronger right now but I'm guessing that is something that will come over time. My hair growth has definitely improved which is a bonus as I wanted it longer anyway! Sea kelp takes quite a while to start working so don't be disheartened if you don't see results very quickly. I've heard that sea kelp is good for weight loss but as I'm not taking it for this purpose I can't comment on that issue, even though the bottle I have has 'supports weight management' as its main tagline. After a little bit of googling I found an article from the Daily Fail slamming a footballer's wife for taking them; this is the only source I can find that says they don't work for weight loss. Make up your own mind on that!

Medically, sea kelp can be used to stimulate low thyroid production and as it contains a high level of calcium, it's great for your bones and digestion. There is evidence to suggest that sea kelp may help slow down the aging process and anecdotally, Japenese women are reported as saying it's what keeps their hair coloured well into their old age. There are of course risks related to sea kelp, so you should be very careful if you want to start taking them. If you have any thyroid issues at all then you should check with your doctor first - it can cause hyperthyroidism and other illnesses that just aren't fun. Make sure to source your sea kelp tablets properly as some can contain too much iodine (the element that helps your hair to grow) or heavy metals that can be dangerous to pregnant women and their babies. As sea kelp is not a medically recognised supplement, it can be unpredictable and there is a small possibility that you may experience a weird side effect. Consulting a doctor before starting on the supplement is a good plan!

Back to the tablets I've been taking - the only real issue I have with them is that they're really big and aren't coated so they're quite hard to swallow! I have to break one tablet into two every time I take them. This is a bit of a pain but the benefits far outweigh this little inconvenience. To stop them from drying out, the pot has a roll of cotton wool underneath the lid which has to be removed every time I take a tablet out; again this is a mere annoyance but not really something you can get around. The bottle is easy to open and has all the nutritional data printed on it which reassures me somewhat. I cut my dose down when I realised that taking the recommended two to three tablets was giving me between 200 and 300% of my daily iodine intake! If you eat a varied diet that you can and do get iodine through the day from various sources (such as milk and meat) so taking 300% of your RDA in a tablet on top of that is just not necessary. I was also worried about the possibility of causing a side effect at that dose level. I'm not really sure how others have found 600mg tablets because that, according to my bottles nutritional information, would be 1200% over the RDA of iodine per tablet - either my values are off or something fishy is going on!

I got my tablets from Holland and Barret. It was about £5 for a big pot of 500 30mg tablets, which has lasted me forever (I have a feeling it was on half price). If you wait until Holland and Barret do one of their stickered events (half price or buy one, get one for 1p) then you can grab a pot of sea kelp tablets for a very reasonable price! Health food shops will also stock sea kelp tablets, and you may be able to find it in other more palatable forms if you can't handle taking massive tablets every day. Amazon sell kelp powder however I am unsure how much it is or how much iodine it contains.

I will continue to take one tablet a day until I am satisfied with my nail and hair condition - I'll definitely be keeping an eye open for any unwanted side effects though. Health is so much more important than long nails and shiny hair! If you're pregnant (or breast feeding), under 18 or have kidney, thyroid or liver problems, then please do not take these tablets as they could cause you a lot of problems.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

An all round healthy alternative to physically eating sea weed

As well as providing beautiful underwater forests with many housing a diversity of marine life such as Sea lions, Kelp has also got a very practical use for humans. Whilst I have in the past used sea kelp to provide health benefits, I have recently turned back to this wonder product for the effects that it has on my hair growth and overall health.

===An Introduction to Sea Kelp===

Sea kelp is a large member of the seaweed family which is usually green-brown in colour and grows underwater throughout a variety of oceans around the world. The plant itself grows in large forests which usually reach a height of between 25 and 80 metres with each plant capable of growing up to half a metre in a single day. The plant can be distinguished from other seaweed types as it grows an almost vertical stalk upon which long fronds of leafs grow. The plant is harvested for a variety of uses which include harvesting the kelp leaves for food garnishes and processing the plant to produce kelp tablets, the later of which I will be reviewing.

===Kelp Tablets===

Kelp tablets contain a concentration of sea kelp and can be bought from a variety of health food stores such as Holland and Barrett. In Holland and Barrett, where I bought my tablets, the kelp is packaged in an upright green tub which has a flip open lid and is illustrated on the front with a photograph of the sea kelp ingredient, which looks in all honesty on first glance like a field of grass. The appearance of this packaging along with the fact that most of the health supplements in Holland and Barrett are packaged in green containers means that this product can be easily overlooked on a crowded shelf.

When opening the lid, the tablets are packaged underneath a small amount of what appears to be cotton wool which I can only assume is to keep the tablets dry and as such I have left mine in the bottle until the tablets run out. The tablets themselves are a light green in colour. Each measure around a centimetre in diameter and the tablets are smooth and round to enable them to be swallowed with minimum discomfort. The tablets feel very powdery and dry to the touch whilst they are practically odourless with only a hint of the smell of the sea.

===Taking the Tablets and Dosage===

These tablets are to be ingested orally and it is recommended that they are swallowed daily before or after eating. From experience I usually find that they can be swallowed quite easily with a glass of water however the size of them and the fact that they are slightly powdery does mean they have a tendency to catch in the back of your mouth and therefore a couple of gulps of water is often needed. Holland and Barrett recommend that you take 1 - 3 tablets daily and that you do not exceed the recommended dose.

===Limitations on Use===

Whilst these tablets can be taken by the vast majority of people it is advised on the back of the bottle that they are not taken by women who are or who think they are pregnant, children and people with thyroid disorders.

===Vitamins and Minerals===

It is largely known that seaweed contains a number of minerals essential to good health and sea kelp is no exception to this rule. Whilst I admit to not being a big lover of vitamins taken in tablet form, preferring to eat the associated fruit instead, I do have a shortage of seaweed in my diet despite living near the sea and therefore take these tablets to make up for this deficiency. Amongst the vitamins and minerals that sea kelp contains they are particularly high in the following vitamins and minerals:-

Each of these ingredients is important for overall wellbeing but often some of these ingredients are lacking in everyday diets hence why I prefer to take these tablets daily as part of my evening meal.

===Price and Availability===

As already mentioned I bought my sea kelp from Holland and Barrett and found them in the healthy living section of my local store. In store they can be bought in bottles housing 250, 500 and 1000 tablets and the price fluctuates accordingly with a 250 tablet bottle costing £2.74 and a 1000 bottle costing around £10. Being that I take the maximum dosage of three tablets daily this works out as the bottle lasting around 83 days or just over 2 ½ months which makes them a cost effective way of giving some essential nutrients to your body in my opinion.

Sea kelp tablets can also be bought from a number of other health food shops and online from such retailers as Lifeplan.

===Health Benefits===

These tablets are said to provide a number of health benefits and researching them provides a number of contrasting views as to what they really do. Essentially they serve three purposes a list of which is as follows:-

1. Provide nutrients and minerals which are essential for overall health.2. Improve performance of thyroid glands which in turn increases fat absorption.3. Strengthen the immunity system.

These tablets can also be used to control thyroid hormone production and function with the high concentration of iodine. The subject of iodine being, I must admit, until this point only associated with my old school chemistry room.

===Kelp and Weight Loss===

Whilst I must admit to not buying these tablets for this purpose, it is widely said that kelp tablets can be used to assist in weight loss. They do this with their iodine ingredient which helps to regulate the thyroid hormone in the form of the thyroxin it produces. The thyroxin hormone improves the bodies' metabolic rate which in turn controls the speed at which the body burns sugars and fat.

===Kelp and Hair Growth===

I have to admit to being a bit vain especially since I have a couple of events this summer and therefore wanted to maximise my chances of longer looking hair. Remembering that these tablets worked well for my hair growth a couple of years ago this was my main intention for using these tablets.

It has been said on a number of online resources that the hair growth effects of kelp are a side effect of the high iodine they contain. This is (as I understand it) because the iodine regulates the thyroid hormone in the form of thyroxin. The thyroxin hormone controls the dormant stage in the hair growth cycle and by decreasing the duration of the dormant stage the hair follicle is likely to grow more quickly thus producing longer hair. The introduction of Vitamin K in the tablet also increases the metabolism resulting in the hair growth being improved.

Whilst I do not believe that there is any scientific proof as to these tablets increasing hair growth it has certainly been suggested as a benefit of these tablets by a number of users.

===Results===

Not being one to do things lightly, I take the maximum recommended daily allowance of 3 tablets per day. Whilst I am not going to promise that these tablets will provide instant long and luscious locks overnight they certainly help in increasing my hair growth and in making the hair on my head feel thicker. I have very slow hair growth, often being around 1 inch in every 2-3 or so months and whilst I am not talking about hair dramatically increasing in growth, I would say that these tablets help in increasing my hair growth by around 3-5mm per month.

Another side effect of these tablets is the fact that whilst improving my hair growth they also make my nails grow a lot quicker and stronger than they did previously. I do not know the scientific reasons for this but can only say that it is an added bonus and means that I may try and have long nails naturally rather than using the acrylic route.

As I do not get a lot of iron in my diet I do also feel healthier and more alert generally and also have more energy than I did before taking these tablets, which in turn has meant I have recently been doing more exercise the effects of (I hope) will enable me to finally tone up after a long winter of scoffing. I believe that I already have quite a high metabolic rate, however as I am getting older I do not believe that it can hurt to increase it more and in this way burn more fat, although I have no proof that these tablets have done this in my case.

===Summary===

In my opinion these are useful daily tablets which provide a variety of healthy minerals to my body which I would otherwise not consume in my daily diet. I would therefore recommend them to anyone who is, as I am, trying to grow out their hair or who simply want to maintain a healthier style of living. With them costing as little as £2.74 for a bottle they will hardly break the bank and are therefore well worth a try for the health benefits alone even if they do nothing for your hair growth or weight.

As a result of the excellent price and the effect these tablets have on my now shoulder length hair I will be scoring them 5 stars out of 5.

Thanks for reading! x

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

very good

I have got hypothyroid for last 5 years. I started taking Sea Kelp along with Siberian ginseng and results were wonderful. I used to be lethargic and tired always, irregular periods, weakness, thin falling hair, mood swings and memory fog are just a few of those problems I was going through. One major benefit I got straight after using them was regular menstrual cycle and now in last one year I have not missed a single month. My overall health has improved.I do not feel lethargic and drowsy anymore and able to spend quality time with my kids and family. Another change which my friends and family noticed was loss of inflammation which obviously had a very positive impact on my personality. I have also observed weight loss but then you must have calorie controlled diet and regular exercise.It is always good to ask for your GP advice first. Secondly do some basic research according to your own health condition and symptoms because only you know your body better. I take it three times a day, with every meal then take a month's break after every 2-3 months.I strongly recommend it to people who are suffering due to Hypotyhroid.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

I Definately Recommend These To Everyone

My mom always takes a lot of notice to what new weight loss things are in with celebs such as the coconut water she bought a few weeks back which tasted so disgusting! This is the latest one she read about when a magazine said these little tablets are what helps Mrs Gerrard keep her figure so of course my mom went out and bought 2 bottles one for me and one for herself to help us along the way alongside the Slimfast diet we are already doing. I was understandably sceptical about trying these as some of the weight loss products in the past have been so horrible and they havent even worked but I started taking these tablets with every meal a few weeks ago now and I really am happy with the results they are actually helping me lose weight much quicker which I didnt think was possible.

What Is Sea-Kelp?Sea kelp is basically a posh way of saying seaweed and there are said to be a number of benefits of taking these tablets regularly although as with a lot of natural remedies there are many questions about its effectivness. Sea kelp can also be bought in liquid and powder forms although tablets and capsules are more widely available and much easier to ingest I imagine!

Whats The Point?Now while I have been personally taking these to aid my weight loss there are other reasons why people take these. They are said to make your hair grow quicker which is something I only found out today - so Ill be skinny while taking these but my hairdresser will be making a fortune! These tablets are actually a great thing to take for your body as a whole as they are packed with loads of brilliant minerals like: Iodine, Salt, Potassium, Calcium, Vitamin A & Protein which are all things your body relies on to function. This can also help to bring your bodies PH levels to a neutral level as the tablets have a high alkaline level.

So it might be worth taking these regualrly even if you arent looking to lose weight or grow your hair as they are pretty good for your body as a whole and provide loads of key minerals your body needs. As with any tablets though these come with health warnings: pregnant or women who are breast feeding shouldnt take these and these tablets have been known to cause vomiting and diarrhea in some people although those side effects are quite rare and I personally havent had any negative reaction from these.

Did It Help My Weight Loss?I think they really have as since I have started taking these I have lost 1 pound more a week than I was previously so in my opinion even though that is only a slight improvment it is still a change so I definately think these have helped me lose weight and I will be continuing to take them until I reach the size I want to be. Obviously these arent going to help with weight loss without a balanced diet and exercise you can sit on your bum, eat a KFC and then pop one of these and think you will lose a stone because that isnt going to happen. But with a calorie controlled diet and regular exrecise these definately help with weight loss. I take one of these with every full meal (3 times a day) and I think that is more than enough any more and I think the effects would be far too drastic.

We paid around £5 for 1000 tablets in Holland & Barrett as part of their BOGOF offer which I believe is still running and even though we both take 3 a day these will last ages so I fully recommend them.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

good stuff

I have been taking kelp on and off for a couple of years. I use it purely for one thing, to help the condition and growth rate of my hair.

What is it?

Derived from a source of iodine from deep within the ocean depths, kelp is not that far apart from seaweed. The same trace minerals and vitamins can be found in both. You can buy kelp in tablet form from a range of herbal stockists. I cite Holland and Barratt and Healthy Direct to name but two. The strength of the kelp will vary from supplier to supplier. The higher the strength means that you are getting a higher dose of the minerals and you will reap quicker rewards.

You can buy them in jars, quantities vary form 60 tablets up to about 200 tablets. You are advised to take one or two a day with food.

How to Consume:

Best taken with food, or a drink so they are absorbed into the bloodstream more effectively, you swallow whole. Do not chew as the taste is gritty and quite foul and actually tastes of stale sea water!

Do they work?

I took them for a period of several months and I did notice an improvement in hair growth. The hair on my head seemed to speed up in growth and I also noticed it was slightly thicker. There is a downside, as hair started to flourish in other areas! Hairs on arms began to sprout more readily than before and, well without going into too much graphic detail, other areas also benefited!

I do recommend them for people who are trying to accelerate hair growth, but the tablets do come with health warnings. I understand that pregant women should avoid them and people who have over active thyroids. Otherwise, at a few pounds a jar, they are a useful supplement.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

I just thought I'd let you all know that kelp is known to help with weight loss. There is a high concentration of iodine in it which stimulates the thyroid gland. I took it for a month a long with a healthy diet. Although it didn't produce a miricle it did seem to give a better effect than just a healthy diet on its own. I must say though that I didn't have a vast amount of weight to lose so it would be interesting to see if its helped other people ......Hi just thought I'd write some more for Plain Jane and sceptics. I don't yet know how to respond to comments so I'll write it here. To get more info on Kelp tablets read around on nutrition websites. There is a definate scientific link to iodine and thyroid stimulation, but more it written about it in natural health areas than medical areas. Give it a try.

Comments

Advantages

Disadvantages

A very cheap, very effective way to grow your hair FASTER!! I was watching TV one day (Stars in their Eyes actually, obviously there wasn't a lot on telly that day) and there was a woman with long blonde hair telling the viewers about the woman she was going to "be". The singer she chose has long hair and her own hair was quite short at the time of applying to be on the show. Although most people wear a wig to portray their chosen singer, this lady wanted to grow her own hair so she used Kelp tablets. I have seen many advertisements in magazines and on the internet for hair-growing tablets and they all seem to cost a small fortune. However a bottle of 30 Sea Kelp tablets cost me about £3 from Superdrug so I tried them. After all if they hadn't worked, I'd hardly lost any money. Sea Kelp contain calcium, iron, zinc and iodine. Taken daily they boost the immune system, improve circulation and make bones stronger - so even if they don't work to make your hair grow faster at least you'll be healthier!! I took one tablet of Kelp per day every day WITH FOOD for about three months and my hair was growing about an inch a month (I know this to be true as I had to dye my hair twice as often as normal due to large root regrowth!!). After about 3 months although I continued to take Kelp, it seemed to stop working. I recommended Kelp to a friend and she took them daily for a couple of months and her hair grew about twice as fast as normal. Again though, after a couple of months they seemed to stop working. But if you want your hair to grow faster for a special occasion i.e. wedding or party, then I would recommend Sea Kelp tablets. They may not work for everyone but they certainly worked for me, and as long as you persevere with them and remember to take them with food, then hopefully they will.